Storage rack for clothes hangers

ABSTRACT

A storage rack for clothes hangers comprising a base, at least two pairs of stacking columns each mounted substantially perpendicular to the base and shaped to receive the outer portions of a clothes hanger, at least one of the stacking columns of each pair being slidably mounted on the base to adjust each pair of stacking columns to a size that accommodates the hanger to be stored. A bracket interconnects adjacent members of adjacent pairs of the stacking columns and when the bracket connects to a slidably mounted stack column it is both slidably mounted of each on the interconnected stack columns and also slidably adjustable between the interconnected stack columns.

United States Patent Boley [54] STORAGE RACK FOR CLOTHES HANGERS [72] Inventor: Benjamin Steven Boley, Richmond, Va.

[73] Assignee: Thalhimer Brothers, Incorporated,

Richmond, Va.

[22] Filed: May 7, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 35,475

[52] 11.8. C1. ..211/49 R, 312/42 [51 lnt. Cl. 1 1 ..A4717/00 [58] Field 01Search ..2ll/49 R, 49 D, 49 S; 206/62 R, 4; 223/120; 312/42; 221/242, 44, 241; 248/3451; 108/55, 54,53

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 945,126 l/19l0 Karr ..221/242 1,917,764 7/1933 Howie.. 2,454,858 11/1948 Burt..... 2,667,979 2/1954 French. 2,918,174 12/1959 Tabbi ..211/49 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier Assistant Examiner-Abraham Frankel Attorney-Larson, Taylor & Hinds [57] ABSTRACT A storage rack for clothes hangers comprising a base, at least two pairs of stacking columns each mounted substantially pcrpendicular to the base and shaped to receive the outer portions ofa clothes hanger, at least one of the stacking columns of each pair being slidably mounted on the base to adjust each pair of stacking columns to a size that accommodates the hanger to be stored. A bracket interconnects adjacent members of adjacent pairs of the stacking columns and when the bracket connects to a slidably mounted stack column it is both slidably mounted of each on the interconnected stack columns and also slidably adjustable between the interconnected stack columns.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED AY 9 I972 SHEET 1 OF 4 mvsmon BENJAMIN STEPHEN BOLEY ATTORNEYS PATENTEDMAY 9mm 3.661.268

S'Tfl 2 BF 4 mvm'ron BENJAMIN STEPHEN BOLEY ATTORNEYS PATENTEDHAY 9 1922 3.661268 SHEET 3 or 4 v INVENTOR BENJAMIN STEPHEN BOLEY ATTORNEYS PATENTEDKAY 9 1912 SHLET 4 [1F 4 INVENTOII BENJAMIN STEPHEN BOLEY ATTORNEYS STORAGE RACK FOR CLOTHES HANGERS This invention is directed to a rack for storing clothes hangers. More particularly, the invention is directed to a storage rack for clothes hangers which is adjustable to accomodate hangers of varying size.

At present there is no convenient way whereby clothes hangers of various size can be stored together in a minimum of space with a maximum of portability and access to the hangers. Hangers are either stored in boxes where, even if neatly packed originally, they will in a short time become entangled, or they are stored on pipe racks which in addition to wasting space present an unsightly appearance.

The present invention seeks to overcome these difficulties by providing a rack capable of storing hangers of different sizes while offering an ease of accessibility.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rack for storing clothes hangers in a plurality of stacks but which takes up a minimum of floor space. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a rack which is portable and aesthetically acceptable so that it may be kept in for instance a showroom.

These and other objects of the invention are obtained by a storage rack comprising a base, at least two pairs of stacking columns each mounted substantially perpendicular to said base, each of said stacking columns being shaped to receive the outer portions of a clothes hanger, at least one of the stacking columns of said pairs being slidably mounted on said base to adjust each pair of stacking columns to a size that accomodates the clothes hanger to be stored, a bracket interconnecting adjacent members of adjacent pairs of said stacking columns, said bracket when connected to a slidably mounted stack column being both slidably mounted on each of the interconnected stack columns and slidably adjustable between said interconnected stack columns.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention the base contains either two or four pairs of stacking columns wherein the base is respectively generally triangular or generally rectangular in shape. Also in the preferred embodiments of the invention the base will be provided with rollers or casters so that the rack may be portable and the base edges are provided with a bumper preferrably of a resilient material such as rubber.

The invention will be further described by reference to the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of one embodiment of the invention wherein the rack is capable of accomodating four stacks of clothes hangers;

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the adjustable bracket interconnecting adjacent members of columns whereby the distance between the slidably mounted stack may be adjusted to accomodate clothes hangers of different sizes;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of another embodiment of the invention wherein the base contains two pairs of stacking columns for accomodating two stacks of clothes hangers; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a base 2 is provided with four pairs of stacking columns, 4,4; 6,6; 8,8; and 10,10. Each of the stacking columns is comprised of three walls, 12, 14, and 16, and a column base 18. The side walls of the pairs of stacking columns are shaped to accomodate the end portions 20 and 20' of a clothes hanger. All the stacking columns are mounted substantially perpendicular to the base 2 and one member of each pair of the stacking columns is slidably mounted on the base 2. As shown in FIG. 1, for instance, stacking columns 4', 6', 8 and 10' are slidably mounted onto the base 2 while stacking columns 4, 6, 8 and 10 are fixedly mounted to the base 2 by means of bolts 38. Stacking columns 4', 6, 8 and 10 are slidably mounted onto the base 2 by providing the base with slots 22 and inserting bolts 24 through the columns base 18 and slots 22, respectively. The bolts 24 may be loosened to allow the stacking columns to slide along a path defined by the slot 22. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the slidably mounted stacking columns 4 and 6' are adjacent each other and opposite slidably mounted stacking columns 8' and 10' which are also adjacent each other. Directing attention to FIG. 2, stacking columns 8 and 10' are interconnected by an adjustable bracket 26 and stacking columns 4 and 6 are interconnected by adjustable bracket 27. Adjustable bracket 26 is composed of two sections, 260 and 26b. Section 26b is slidably mounted on side 16 of stacking column 8 while section 26a is slidably mounted on side 16 of stacking column 10'. The mounting of sections 26a and 26b to the respective sides 16 of columns 8' and 10' is by means of bolts 28 and 28' which extend through slots 36 and 36, respectively, provided in sides 16 of stack column 8' and 10. Sections 26a and 26b of adjustable bracket 26 are adjustably connected to each other by providing each section with coinciding slots 30 and extending through the slot, a bolt 32. The bolts 32 are connected to a cross support member.

Adjustable bracket 27 interconnecting stacking columns 4' and 6 is composed of similar elements and mounted in the same manner as adjustable bracket 26.

Stacking columns 4, 6, 8 and 10 are fixedly mounted to the base 2 by means of bolts 38. A support member 40 extends between stack column 4 and stack column 10 and is attached to side wall 16 of stack column 4 by means ofa bolt 42 and to side wall 16 of stack column 10 by means of a bolt 42'. Likewise, the fixedly attached stack columns 6 and 8 are provided with supporting member 44 attached at one end thereof to side 16 of stack column 8 by means of bolt 46 and at the other end by means of bolt 46. Extending between and attached to support members 40 and 44 is a cross support member 29. Suitable swivel casters 32 are mounted on the underside of each comer of base 2 by means bolts 33. A bumper 48 preferably of resilient material such as rubber is mounted around the outside edges of the base 2.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention designed to take up less floor space than the embodiment described in FIGS. 1-3 above. Referring to FIG. 4 the base 52 is in a generally triangular shape and contains two pairs of stacking columns 54 and 54' and 56 and 56 mounted thereto in an substantially perpendicular fashion. Adjacent stacking columns 54' and 56' are slidably mounted on base 52 in a manner identical to that described with reference to stacking columns 6' and 8' in the description of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. An adjustable bracket 55 of identical structure to bracket 26 described above is also mounted in similar fashion between stacking columns 54' and 56 as described above with reference to stacking columns 10' and 8'. Stacking columns 54 and 56 are fixedly mounted to the base 52 by means of bolts 58 and 58', respectively. Sides 16 of each of the stacking columns 54 and 56 have mounted thereon a bracket 60 and 60 by means of bolts 62 and 62. A cross support 64 is rigidly connected at its end to brackets 60 and 60, respectively. A second cross support member 66 extends between the bracket 55 and cross support member 64 to which it is fixedly attached. At its other end the cross support member 66 is removably attached to the adjustable bracket 55 by means of bolts 32 which are threadedly connected to the cross support member at this end.

Two fixed casters 68 (see FIG. 5) are mounted on the underside of the triangular base 52, near two corners thereof, by means of bolts 70. As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 contains a bumper 72 preferably of resilient material such as rubber around the edges of the base 52.

In the operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, bolts 24, bolts 28 and bolt 32 are loosened and stacking column 10' slid in the path defined by slots 22 the distance necessary to accomodate storing of a given clothes hanger. In the embodiments shown the distance the stacking columns may be moved is a distance A. Movement of the stacking column 10' to the left will slide both 28' along slot 36' and at the same time pull section 26a along with it since bolt 32 has been loosened to permit movement of section 26a by virtue of slot 30 provided therein. When the proper size has been determined, bolts 24 are tightened along with bolts 28 and 32. To ready the rack for the storage of another stack of hangers the same procedure is followed with for instance stacking column 8, that is, bolts 24 of the column are loosened along with bolt 28 and bolt 32. The stack column is then moved along slots 22 which also moved bolt 28 down slot 36 in the wall 16 of stacking column 8' and at the same time pulled the section 26a. Again when the proper size has been determined bolts 22, 28 and 32 are tightened.

Operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and is carried out by loosening bolts 44 of stacking columns 54' and bolt 32 and sliding it along base 52 in the slots 22 the distance necessary to snugly accomodate the hanger to be stored. The movement of the column 54 will effect movement of the same parts in the same manner as described above in reference to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3. When the correct size has been determined, the bolts 44 and 32 are tightened. The procedure is repeated with column 56 when columns 56 and 56 are to be readied for storage of another rack of hangers.

Stacking of the hanger is accomplished by merely laying the end portions and 20' into the accomodating stacking columns and permitting the hanger to settle into storage position.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

it is claimed:

1. A storage rack for clothes hangers comprising a base, at least two pairs of stacking columns each mounted substantially perpendicular to said base, each of said stacking columns being shaped to receive the outer portions of a clothes hanger, at least one of the stacking columns of each of said pairs being slidably mounted on said base to adjust each pair of stacking columns to a size that accomodates the clothes hanger to be stored, a bracket interconnecting adjacent members of adjacent pairs of said stacking columns, said bracket when connected to a slidably mounted stacking column being both slidably mounted on each of the interconnected stacking columns and slidably adjustable between said interconnected stacking columns.

2. The rack of claim 1 wherein the base edges are provided with a bumper of resilient material.

3. The rack of claim 1 wherein the base is generally triangular in shape and contains one pair of stacking columns positioned to accomodate the outer portions of a clothes hanger along one side of said base and another pair of stacking columns positioned to accomodate the other portions of the clothes hanger along the other side of said base.

4. The rack of claim 3 wherein one column of each of said pairs of stacking columns is slidably mounted on said base and the other column of each of said pairs being fixedly mounted, said slidably mounted stacking columns being adjacent to each other.

5. The rack of claim 4 provided with a first cross support member between the fixedly mounted stacking columns and a second cross member slidably mounted at one end to the adjustable bracket interconnecting the slidably mounted stacking columns and fixedly mounted at the other end to the first cross support member.

6. The rack of claim 1 wherein the base is provided with casters.

7. The rack of claim I wherein the base contains four pairs of said stacking columns positioned on said base one pair opposite another pair so as to store four stacks of clothes hangers, one column of each of said pair of stacking columns being slidably mounted on said base, and the other column of each of said pair being fixedly mounted to said base, said slidably mounted columns being adjacent to each other whereby a pair of slidably mounted columns is positioned on the base opposite another pair of slidably mounted columns and a pair of fixedly mounted columns are positioned on the base 0 posite a pair of fixedly mounted columns,

8. e rack of claim 7 containing a first cross support member between the pair of fixedly mounted columns and a second cross support member slidably mounted at each end to the adjustable brackets interconnecting the respective pairs of the slidably mounted columns.

9. The rack of claim 8 wherein the base edges are provided with a bumper of resilient material and the base with casters. 

1. A storage rack for clothes hangers comprising a base, at least two pairs of stacking columns each mounted substantially perpendicular to said base, each of said stacking columns being shaped to receive the outer portions of a clothes hanger, at least one of the stacking columns of each of said pairS being slidably mounted on said base to adjust each pair of stacking columns to a size that accomodates the clothes hanger to be stored, a bracket interconnecting adjacent members of adjacent pairs of said stacking columns, said bracket when connected to a slidably mounted stacking column being both slidably mounted on each of the interconnected stacking columns and slidably adjustable between said interconnected stacking columns.
 2. The rack of claim 1 wherein the base edges are provided with a bumper of resilient material.
 3. The rack of claim 1 wherein the base is generally triangular in shape and contains one pair of stacking columns positioned to accomodate the outer portions of a clothes hanger along one side of said base and another pair of stacking columns positioned to accomodate the other portions of the clothes hanger along the other side of said base.
 4. The rack of claim 3 wherein one column of each of said pairs of stacking columns is slidably mounted on said base and the other column of each of said pairs being fixedly mounted, said slidably mounted stacking columns being adjacent to each other.
 5. The rack of claim 4 provided with a first cross support member between the fixedly mounted stacking columns and a second cross member slidably mounted at one end to the adjustable bracket interconnecting the slidably mounted stacking columns and fixedly mounted at the other end to the first cross support member.
 6. The rack of claim 1 wherein the base is provided with casters.
 7. The rack of claim 1 wherein the base contains four pairs of said stacking columns positioned on said base one pair opposite another pair so as to store four stacks of clothes hangers, one column of each of said pair of stacking columns being slidably mounted on said base, and the other column of each of said pair being fixedly mounted to said base, said slidably mounted columns being adjacent to each other whereby a pair of slidably mounted columns is positioned on the base opposite another pair of slidably mounted columns and a pair of fixedly mounted columns are positioned on the base opposite a pair of fixedly mounted columns.
 8. The rack of claim 7 containing a first cross support member between the pair of fixedly mounted columns and a second cross support member slidably mounted at each end to the adjustable brackets interconnecting the respective pairs of the slidably mounted columns.
 9. The rack of claim 8 wherein the base edges are provided with a bumper of resilient material and the base with casters. 